Self-playing musical instrument



Jan. 2, 1923.

, I.y B. DOMAN.

SELF PLAYING Musl cAL INSTRUMENT. F1 LED FEB. 28. 1918 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 FROM ncTloN 1 nl()I III www??? Patented Jan. 2, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEWIS B. DOMAN, OF EAST SYRAOUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMPHION PIANO PLAYER COMPANY, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, A CORIORATION OF NEW YORK.

SELF-PLAYING MUSICAL "INSTRUMENT.

Application ld February 28, 191,'8. Serial N0.,219,650.

ments in self-playing musical instruments,4

and refers more particularly to means for controlling the expression or modulating the tone, as may be desired, during the playingof a musical selection.

Themain object is to obtain a .closer and wider ,range of gradation of tone or expression control with a fewer number of.

parts than has heretofore been -practiced so as to increase the general efficlenc7 oflthe device and enable it to be lnstal ed 1n a relatively small compact space.

One of the specific Objects is to render the governing pneumatic for the mam expression-controlling valve more qulckly' responsive to the slightest variations of air tension therein when playing, 'and to cause said pneumatic and valve to automatically assume a balanced open condition under an air tension just sufiicient to overcome the minimum load or resistance of the player action and piano action operated thereby.

Another specific object is to control the air tension in the player action for different tone effects by simply admitting atmospheric air in regulated quantities to the valve-operating pneumatic so that the tone may be held to any degree or varied through infinitesimal gradations from pianissimo to fortissimo and vice versa, or, when play-` ing under a tension below that sufficient to produce fortis-:simo effects, may be accented desired. v

A further object is to provide simple means whereby the main controllingyalve may be positively closed by the same pneumatic to cut ofil communication between the wind-inducing device and sound-producing action during the reroll of the music sheet or web.

Other objects and uses relating to specific parts of the device will be brought out in the following description.

In the drawings'- Figure 1 represents, in Section, various parts of an expressionj controlling device embodying the features of my invention as automatically controlledby a tracker bar and music sheet, also shown in section, said parts being arranged diagrammatically for clearness of illustration. y

Figures Q'and 3 are sectional views taken respectively on lines 2-2 and 3 3, 'Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of a modified means for venting the operating-pneumatic for the. main controlling valve for different degrees of accent or tone expression.

In carrying out the objects stated, I provide a valve chest -1- having a chamber -2' adaptedl to be connected 'by 'a port .3- to a wind-inducing device or pump, not shown, and also adapted to be connected by a port -4- to a sound-producing action, not shown. Y

The lower side of the valve chest -1- is provided with a chamberl -5- having a movable side -6-' consisting of a diaphragm which, togetherwith the chamber formsy a pneumatic for operating a valve --7-- through'the medium of a connecting rod -8-.

The valve 7 is movable in the chamber -2- to and from a seat on the under side of the top wall of said chamber to control the passage of air through the port 4 a-nd thereby control communication between the wind-inducing device and sound-producing action. y

The valve rod or stem -8- is movable through a tubular guide '-9-- in the bottom wall-of the vchamber --2 and has its op- -posite ends threaded and each provided with a pair of nuts 10bfor securing the diaphragm and valve,'respectively, thereto so that both lmay move in unison.

lVhen the instrument is at rest, the valve --7-- normally drops away from its seat, thereby opening the port -4 to establish communication between` the wind-inducing device and sound-producing action, permitvting the distention of the pneumatlc -6-.

Automatic control of main governing pneumatic.

The pneumatic (3- is connected by a pipe --11-w and branch -12- to a com nection, as *4U-7 between the port #-4- and sound-produclng action andabothe port in the top wall of the ychamber 2 so as to constitute a by-pass leading from the pneumatic to. a point in the connection between the valve land action, thereby establishing communication between the windinducing de-vice and pneumatic through the normally open port -4-, branch -12- and pipe -11-, and renderin said pneumatic directly susceptible to influence by varying tensions in the wind-inducing device. 4

The passage through the branch -12- is restricted at -'-12- towarelatively small area ascompared with that of the conduit -11- leading to the pneumatic -6- so that when atmospheric air is admitted to the pneumatic through the conduit -Ilin a manner hereinafter described it will tend to reduce the air tension in said pneumatic to a degree proportionate to the volume of atmospheric air admitted, thereby 'causing a corresponding further opening of the valve -7-- for increasing the tone effects produced by the player action.

closed to the atmosphere and that the instrument is in operation,l then it is evident that as the air tension in the chamber 2 and sound-producing action connected thereto through the open port -4- isfincreased, a corresponding increase of tension will take place in the pneumatic --6-V through the branch -l2- and conduit -11-, thereby causing a partial collapse of said pneumatic and resultant movement of the valve .-7- towar'ds its seat around'the port -4`, tending to close said valve whlch is'prevented from being closed by reason of the by-p'ass connection with the pneumatic. l For example, assuming that as the air tension in the neumatic increases and it should momentari y close the valve -7--, then comv munication between the exhaust chamber *2* and pneumatic would be instantly cut off bv the closing of the port 4 whichV would, at the same instant, allow the -valve and pneumatic to recede to a ain open saidv communication,'the effect of t esetwo forces being to balance the valve in an open position.

rll`his opening movement of the valve is also aided by the air current moving in the same direction'through the port -4- and in order that the operation of the valve by the pneumatic may be more positive and responsive to varying air tensions therein, its area is somewhat larger than that of the port 4h and valve -7-, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2.

This by-pass comprising the .i conduit -lland its branch -l2 constitutes the means whereby the pneumatic 6*- automatically controls the operation of the valve vpassage -12i'- may be positioned at vother suitable points in the connection-between the valve port 4 and sound-producing action, or directly in the action chest itself, without departing from the spirit otthis feature of my invention.

Low tension regulator for main, govewu'ng pneumatic.

It is well-known that various pianos as well as different player actions operate under varying degrees of resistance which, for convenience of description, may be termed the load actuated by the air tension produced -by the wind-inducing device, and in order to obtain a maximum range of expression or tone modulation, it is important that .the pneumatic 6- respond `to the lowest air tension which will operate the playerl action and piano action, and for this pur= pose in addition to making the pneumatic of greater area than that-of the port -4- and valve JT- I' have provided a vent tube and adapted to cooperate with an adjustable valve -14A to regulate the amount or rate of flow of air entering theV pneumatic to that which is just sufficient to operate said pneulmatic and valve -7- to produce the lowest tones or pianissimo effects desired, as will be hereafter more fully described.

vVent grading means for .tone modulation.

nected atone end to corresponding ports 15-, -16- and -l7.- in a. tracker bar, as -A-, the other ends of said pipes being connected to an extension -18- ot' the pipe -11- preferably above the branch -12-,' the ports -15-, -16- and 1T- being controlled by suitable perforations in the music sheet or web B-, it be-A ing understood that through the medium of these perforations atmospheric air may be admitted to either one of the tubes or simultaneously to different combinations of tubes :for producing a wide. range of different tone effects.

ico

the tube -ll-, thereby lowering the air* tension in said pneumatic. and causing a correspondingly greater opening of the valve -7- and consequent increase oi air tension in the player action.

In like manner, the tone could be further increased by admitting air through the duct -16- or -15- and their respective pipes -16- and -l5-, or through any combinations of said ducts and pipes.

It will be obvious, however, to those skilled in this art that the means for controlling and varying the quantity of' atmospheric air admitted to the main governing pneumatic -6-, either for grading the tone modulation or for accenting purposes, may be modified in many ways without departing from the spirit of this invention, it being preferable to provide separate devices, one for producing an infinitesimal gradation of tone modulation from one extreme to the other, and vice versa, and another for producing different gradations of accent in a manner somewhat similar to the construction shown in Figure 1, or the equivalent thereof.

Tone-grading controller.

For example, in Figure l I have shown a tone-grading device for producing a maximum number of tone variations through the medium of a minimum number of, in this instance two, atmosphere ports which, as illustrated, are controlled by a corresponding number of lines in the music sheet, while in the same figure is shown a device for producing a relatively large number or' degrees of accent through the medium of a relatively small number of atmosphere ports.

The air-grading device comprises a valve board -19- having, in this instance two, separate valve chambers 20--, each having an atmosphere port -21- and connected by a port -22- to an exhaust chamber Q3- which in turn is provided with an exhaust pipe --2.4i adapted to be connected to the wind-inducing device or other exhaust chamber, not shown.

Suitable valves -Q- are mounted in their respective valve chambers -20- and are adapted to be operated by primary pneumatics QG- havin the'usual bleed holes 27 communicating with the exhaust chamber --23-.

These pneumatics -26- are connected by pipes --2S-- to separate tracker ducts -29- i'n the tracker bar A- said ducts being controlled by suitable perforations Z) and b in the music sheet -B-.

' The valve chambers are connected by separate relatively small passages 3G- and 30- to separate opposed pneumatics -31- and -31,-, the movable sides of which are connected by links -32- and -32- to the headv-S- of a sliding tapered valve This valve -34- is guided in a suitable way -35- and cooperates with a port 3G-- in. a valve block -3T- to control the entrance of air to a chamber -38-.

therein.

The chamber -38- is connected by a pipe -39- to an extension b-4:O of the by-passpipe -11-, preferably above the branch -12- so that atmospheric air which may enter the chamber -38- will pass through the pipes -39- and 4mand thence through the pipe -11-- into the pneumatic -6 for positioning the latter and its valve T- to give the-desired tone effect. i

IThe object in tapering the Valve -34- is to produceva closer regulation of the quantity of air admitted to the pneumatic -6- and by opposing the pneumatics 3land -31-- in the manner shownL it isf evident that when one of them, as -31-, is' operated under' a reduction of air tension, it will move the Valve -34-- toward its closed position for reducing the amount of air admitted to the pneumatic -6-, while on the other hand a reduction of tension in the pneumatic --3lcauses it to open the valve Jfor increasing the amount of air admitted to the main governing pneumatic -6g It is equally evident that if the air tension in both pneumatics -31- and 31- is the same, they will hold the valve 234- in a definite central or neutral position.

In thevoperation of this air-grading device, assuming that the instrument is playing under relatively low tension for producing correspondingly low tones, suchY as pianissimo ei'ects, and that it is desired to increase the tone, in which case the music vsheet would be provided at the proper place with a perforation as b adapted to register with the duct -29- corresponding to the pneumatic -31'--, thereby operating the corresponding primary pneumatic 2G-d and adjacent valve --25-- to close communication between said pneun'iatic -31- and the atmosphere and open communication between that pneumatic and exhaust chamber --23-, thus causing a partial collapse of the pneumatic -31- and 'corresponding opening movement of the valve -34--, which admits an increased amount of air to the pneumatic -.6"-, causing a further opening of the valve -7- and resultant increase of air tension in the player action.

i prim ln reverse manner, the pneumatic 431-- and valve w34?- may be operatedrby regis; tering a perforation as b in the music sheet with the corresponding duct 29- for re- '-31 or -31-, due to the relatively small passages -30 and 30- as compared With the pneumatic '-31 and 31- whereby any suddeny tendency of short duration of either pneumatic to collapse is partially resisted by the tendency of the other pneumatic to create a less pressure Within than Without its movable side owing to the inability of the I atmospheric air to enter the last named pneumatic through the restrictive passage '-30 and 30- as fast as its movable side tends to move under the action'ot Vthe `first named pneumatic through the medium of the linlrs (32 and 32'-, but if the movement of the valve and resultant variation ot air tension in the player action is to be cble, then the controlling perforations in the music sheet would be correspondingly long,

and may be suiiciently long to cause a complete collapse of either pneumatic and consequent complete closing `or full opening of the valve --3di v For ascenting purposes, li have provided a` valve board 41- with a series of,-in this instance three, vent ports e2- of dii'erent` lsizes and a corresponding number of'valves 43; controlling said ports, all of which are connected by a branch pipe 444 to the extension -40- of the by-pass pipe 11- so that by opening either valve against the' action oi"- its individual retracting spring., as t5- atmospheric air Will be admitted to the pneumatic -6-, resulting in the :turther opening of the valve -filand consequent vincrease of air tension in the player action.

Secured to the under side ot the vaive board Jilis a bloeit Ll-- having an exhaust chamber '-jand a plurality ot .y pneumatics 8-Q one tor each of the valves -4f3-, the exhaust chamber -llt-M being adapted to be connected by a pipe to-the Wind-inducing device or; other exhaust chamber, not slfiovvn,i

rthe pneumatics 4l8 are adapted to operate their respective valves.

board eelt-e, Figure l, said intensa pneumatics being connected vby separate tubes' or `pipes -5lto individual ducts 52- in the tracker bar -A-.

These ducts -52-` are controlled by the music sheet or Web -B- having perforations properly positioned to register With said ducts when it is desired to operate any one or morevof the pneumatics 48- and valves -te-` to admit atmospheric air to the main governing pneumatic '-6-- By making the ports 42- of different sizes, as shown in Figure 3, it is evident that thev amount of air admitted yto the `pneu- 'matic -6 and resultant variation in the air tension inthe action may be varied by opening different valves or different combinations thereof, and that When this accenting device is controlled by the music sheet, the perforations i'n the latter are relatively short, thus causing a sudden opening and closing ofthe corresponding valve or valves, and consequent sudden variation of the tone produced bythe player action.

If any part/of the musical selection is to be played With crescendo or diminuendo effects9 the perforations in the music sheet Acontrolling the action of the pneumatics `3l Vand -BI- will be-relatively short, thus causing a step by step movement of one or the other of said pneumatic's, according to the tone required.

lt is evident,however` that the 4admission of air to the main expression governing pneumatic may be controlled by other automatic devices than those herein shown and described, or by any suitable form of manually operated devices, and that instead of varying Ithe size of the ducts -l5 --l6- a-ndf--ll-` in lthe tracker bar, as shown in Figure 4f, they may be ot the same size and the perforations in the music sheet registering therewitlivaried in size to accomplish substantially the same results Without departing `troni the spirit ot my invention. y Y

When it is desired to produce the softest tones possible With just sufficient tension to overcome the resistance ci" the actions` the valves 3aand t3- mightbe closed thereby causing an increased tension in the pneumatic 6- through the passages -l2--, l2 and ll which, unless such tension was reduced might result in moving the valve ,7 suiciently near its seat to reduce the airtension in the player action bein the action will be just sufficient to overl have provided the vent tube -v-3 and adjustable y Action cut-out.

In devices of this character, it is' desirable to cut oii communication between thel `wind-inducing device and sound-producing action during the reroll of the music sheet so that the full energy of the wind-inducing device may be transmitted to the winding and rewinding motor, not shown, vand for this purpose a valve block --53--y is secured to one side of the valve chest -1- and is provided with separate chambers *541- and -55 connected by a port w56-, one of said chambers, as .-54-, being connected by a passage -57- to the exhaust chamber -2- of the valve chest 1-, while the other chamber --55- is connected by a pipe -58- to the pneumatic -6-.

A valve -59- normally closes the pagssage -56- to cut off communication between the chambers -54 and -55- and is adapted to be opened by a primary pneumatic 6U-having a vent -61- by which atmospheric air may be admitted thereto when desired by opening a valve -62, or by automatic means. if desired.

For example, when it is desired to reroll the music sheet, the valve G2- may be opened to admit atmospheric air to the primarypneumatic G0- which in turn opens the valve -59-, and thereby connects the main governing pneumatic 6 with the exhaust chamber -54- through the medium of the pipe --58, resulting inthe operation of said governinof pneumatic to completely close the valve -I and cut ofi' communica- Ation between the yWind-inducing device and sound-producing action so that the full tensiontof the wind-inducing device may be diverted to the rerolling motor, it being understood that the relatively large area of the pneumatic 6- as compared with that of terially in eii'ecting a positive closing of the valve when placed indirect communication with the exhaust chamber -Qfthrough medium of the pipe -58-, and that the valve JZ- performs the double function of regulating the air tension in the player action during the playing of a musical selection and also for cutting off 'communication between the wind-inducing device and soundproducing action when it is desired to divert the full tension of the Wind-inducing device to the winding and rewinding motors.

It will be noted that when the communication between the wind-inducing device and 'sound-producing action is cut ofi by the closing oi" the valve -7- for diverting' the fuli tension of the wind-inducing device to the rerolling motor, the action chest will then be theunder atmospheric pressure which causes a reverse How -ot'air through the restricted passage -f-l2- and branch -12- to automatically clean' the same from any dust or lint which may tend to lodge therein.

It willalso be evident that many devices other than those illustrated may be employed for regulating the amount of air admitted to the pneumatic 6- for accenting purposes, such as varying the degreeof opening of one or more of the valves 43-, or varying the size of one or more of the ports -42-, may be used without departing from the spiritof this invention, it being understood that the perforations in the music sheet for controlling the accenting device may be of any length. It is also to be understood that the term tension regulating pneumatic and tension governing pneumatic or tension regulator as used throughout the claims defines a construction by which the air tension in the sound-producing action is automatically maintained at a lower degree than that roduced by the sound-producing action and that by admitting extra air to the tension regulator enables the latter tov be used for the double purpose of automatically maintaining a lower tension in the action than that produced 'by the wind-inducing device and also of controlling the expression through the various grades.

What I claim is:

1. In a self-playing .musical instrument, the combination of a tension-regulating pneumatic and means for admitting and varying the rate of fiow of air under atmosphericy pressure to said pneumatic.

2. In a self-playing musical instrument, the combination of a tension regulating device including a valve and a pneumatic actuator therefor communicating with the windway in which the valve is located, said actuator being provided with an atmosphereport for receiving air under atmospheric pressure and means for varying the effective capacity et said port.

3. In a self-playing musical instrument, the combination with a wind-inducing device and a sound-producing action communica-ting therewith, ot a valve controlling said communication, a pneumatic communicating with a wind-way at' a point between the valve and action, separate atmospheric ports communicating with saidpneumatic, means for' adjusting the rate of flow of air through one of said ports, and means for opening and closing the other port.

4. In a self-playing musical instrument, the combination with a wind-inducing device and a sound-producing action communicating therewith, of a valve controlling said communication, a valve operating pneumatic communicating with the windway beq tween the valve and action through a restricted passage, separate atmosphere-ports communicating with said pneumatic, means for adjusting the rate of iow of air through one `of said ports, and means for opening and closingthe other port.

5. In a' self-playing musical instrument, the combination with a wind-inducing device and a sound-producing action communieating therewith, of a valve controlling said communication, a pneumatic communicating with the Windway at a. point betweenthe valve and action and controlling said valve, a plurality of vent ports of different sizes communicating with said pneumatic, and separate devices for openingand closing said orts.

p 6. ln a self-playing ,musical instrument, the combination with a wind-inducing device and a sound-producing action communieating therewith, of a valve controlling said communication, a pneumatic communicating with the windway at a point lbetween the valve and action and controlling said valve, a plurality of vent ports of diiierent areas communicating with said pneumatic, separate normally closed valves tor said ports, and means for opening said valves individually or in combinations.

7. lin a self-playing musicall instrument, the combination with a wind-inducing de- 'vice and a sound-producing action communieating therewith, of a valve controlling said communication, a pneumatic communicating with the windway between the valve and action and controlling said valve, a vent communicating with said pneumatic, a tapered `valve cooperating with the vent to vary the` rate of flow of atmospheric air therethrough,

and means for operating the tapered valve.

A8. in a self-playing musical instrument, the combination with a wind-inducing device and a sound-producing action communicating therewith, of a valve controlling said communication, a pneumatic communicating with the windway between the valve and action and controlling said valve, a vent communicating with said pneumatic, a valve cooperating with the -vent to vary the rate of flow of atmospheric air to the pneumatic, and pneumatic devices for moving the valve in reverse directions.

9. lin a self-playing musical instrument, the combination with a. wind-inducing device and a sound-producing action communieating therewith, of a valve controlling said communication, a pneumatic for operating i said valve communicating with the windinducing device, and means for placing said pneumatic in additional communication with the wind-inducing device for completely closing the valve.

. l0. ln a self-playing musical instrument, the combination with a wind-inducing device and a sound-producing action communieating therewith, of a, valve controlling said communication, a pneumatic communicating with the Windway between the valve and action andl controlling said valve, and means for placing said pneumatic in additionall communication with the wind-inducing device to cause complete closing. of the valve.

11. lin a self-playing musical instrument, the combination of a tension regulating device including a valve, a pneumaticvactuator therefor a plurality'of atmosphere-ports of different effective capacities communicating with said actuator and means for opening and closing said ports.

l2. ln a self-playing musical instrument, a valve chest having an exhaust chamber and separate ports for connection, respectively, with a wind-inducing device and a sound-producing action, a valve controlling one .of said ports, a pneumatic communicating with the exhaust chamber when the valve is open, and separate mean-s for connecting the pneumatic with the exhaust chamber to close the valve.

13. lin a self-playing musical instrument, a valve chest having anexhaust chamber and separate ports for connection, respectively, with a wind-inducing device and a sound-producing action, a valve controlling the action-port, a pneumatic communicating with the action-port around the valve, and means vitor connecting the pneumatic with the exhaust chamber to close the valve.

14. lin a self-playing musical instrument, a valve chest havin an exhaust chamber and separate ports dor connection, respectively, with a wind-inducing device and a sound-producing action, a valve controlling the action-port, a pneumatic controlling the valve, a passage leading from the action side of the action-port to the pneumatic and having a portion thereof restricted to less size than that portion which opens into the pneumatic, and means for admitting atmospheric air to said passage between said restricted portion and the pneumatic for tone-modulating purposes. i

1? ln a 4self-playing musical instrument, the combination of a tension regulating device including a valve anda pneumatic actuator therefor, said actuator f communicating with" the low tension side of the wind-way in which the valve is located, and means for placing said actuator in communication with the high tension side of the wind-way to cause the closing of the valve.

16. lin a self-playing musical instrument, the combination of a tension regulating device including1 a valve and a pneumatic actuator therefor, said actuator communicating with the low tension side of the wind-Way in which the valve is locate-d, means for placing said actuator 1n communication withthe high tension side of the Wind-Way to cause the closing of the valve, an atmosphere-port communicating with the actuator and means for varying the effective capacity of the last named port.

17. In a self-playing musical instrument, a valve chest having an exhaust chamber and separate ports for connection, respectively, with a wind-inducing device and a sound-producing action, a valve controlling the action-port, a pneumatic of greater area than that of the port controlled by said valve, a bypass leading from the action side of the action-port to said pneumatic. and means separate from the by-pass for connecting the pneumatic with said exhaust chamber for completely closing the valve.

1S. Ina self-playing musical instrument, the combination of a wind-inducing device and sound-producing action communicatingI therewith. of a valve .controlling said communication, a pneumatic communicating With the wind-Way at a point between the valve and action and connected to said Valve; and means for admitting and varying,` the rate of oW of extra air to said pneumatic.

19. In a self-playing musical instrument, a valve chest having an exhaust chamber and separate ports for connection respectively with the Wind-inducing device and sound-producing action, a valve controlling the action port, a pneumatic controlling the valve, a passage leading from the action side of said action port to the pneumatic, and means for admitting and varying the rate of iow of air from the outside to the inside of said pneumatic.

In witnesswhereof I have hereunto set my hand this 13th day of February, 1918.

LEWIS B. DOMAN. lVitnesses GUY M. RUSSELL, J. O. BEDMGND. 

